Necessity is the mother of invention. That adage certainly proved true for Ruth Graves Wakefield, the creator of one of the most popular treats ever.
The Remarkable Accidental Creation of the Chocolate Chip Cookie
How to Become a Professional Santa Claus
All schools have a code of conduct, but some put a particular emphasis on keeping a list of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. If you want to make the spreading […]
Are You Afflicted by Retired Husband Syndrome?
Most happily married couples look forward to opportunities to spend extended time together. As retirement years approach, they begin to dream about all the things they will be able to enjoy together […]
How A Husband’s Care For His Accident-Prone Wife Improved the World
Earle and Josephine Dickson seemed to be made for each other. As is the case in every successful marriage, it was as if they were brought together specifically so that each one’s […]
Whatever Became of the Fear-Filled Boy Who Was Sent to Jail By His Father?
Al was six years old when his father summoned him for a very important assignment. The older man asked the boy if he would be willing to take on an important responsibility. […]
Why You Don’t Remember the Amazing Contributions of H.A. Largelamb
What do you know about the fantastic accomplishments of H.A. Largelamb? Don’t be so quick to say you never heard of him. Although you might not immediately recognize his name, you almost […]
The Hated Inventor and the Dreaded Thing He Created
Adolphe must have been the most unfortunate boy ever. He was certainly the most accident-prone. His mother concluded that he was “condemned to misfortune” and concluded that “he won’t live.” It seemed […]
The Famous Captain Who Didn’t Do What He Was Famous For
There seems to be an awful lot of uncertainty and misinformation surrounding the Captain. The thing he is most remembered for is something he probably had nothing to do with. The big […]
What Good Can Possibly Come From an Uneducable Boy?
Thomas would never amount to anything and was uneducable. That was the conclusion of his teachers, and increasingly, it was the opinion of his parents. The young man, despite being born to […]
Mayor LaGuardia and Justice for a Stolen Loaf of Bread
The bleak, dreary years of the Great Depression brought an energetic, ambitious, and unconventional mayor to the city of New York. Fiorello H. LaGuardia (1882-1947) swept into office, following successive mayors who […]
No Bones About It — Evel Knievel Holds the Record For Most Breaks
Do you think life has handed you some tough breaks? Odds are that as bad as things get for you, you haven’t had as many tough breaks as Evel Knievel.
10 Downing Street — Learn the Fun Facts Behind the Door of One of the World’s Most Famous Addresses
The plain, black door with the number 10 is deceptively nondescript. Aside from the unusual placement of the doorknob in the center of the door, it looks not much different than any […]
The Love Affair That Began and Ended With a Shave
Grace was watering flowers one morning when she saw the most extraordinary thing. The young schoolteacher was just a couple of years into her teaching assignment at the Clarke Schools for Hearing […]
Fun Facts About the First Ladies — Part 2
The role of first lady is ambiguous. It is not an elected position, and the Constitution is silent on the issue. By custom, the first lady is the official hostess of White […]
Was He Brilliant, Lucky, or Bonkers? The Eccentric Life of Lord Timothy Dexter
In the world of eccentrics, Lord Timothy Dexter stands in a class by himself. He made several fortunes through either the keenest business instincts in history or by the wildest strokes of […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 